For the past 20 years, I’ve helped thousands of people secure better-paying jobs, and as one of LinkedIn’s original influencers with over 2.5 million followers, I’ve seen firsthand what works—and what doesn’t—on the platform.
One major shift you need to be aware of is LinkedIn’s algorithm update. Once the platform reached 1 billion users, it changed how it ranks and displays profiles to recruiters. Previously, LinkedIn would pull the top 50 candidates based on keyword searches in profiles. But this system became ineffective because many profiles were incomplete or outdated.
Now, LinkedIn prioritizes engagement. The platform rewards users who actively participate—just like other social media networks. This means that simply having a great profile isn’t enough; you need to be consistently visible. If you’ve noticed a drop in recruiter inquiries, your LinkedIn strategy might be outdated.
Here are three LinkedIn mistakes that could be holding you back:
1. Not Updating Your LinkedIn Profile (Especially Your Headline) Every Two Weeks
The first mistake is not updating your profile every two weeks, especially the headline. Your LinkedIn headline is one of the most critical elements of your profile. It should include the right keywords that recruiters use when searching for candidates. However, many professionals make the mistake of setting their headline once and forgetting about it.
I teach all my clients to make a calendar reminder to update their LinkedIn profile once or twice a month. All you have to do is change a couple of keywords in your headline.
Now, your headline must have all the keywords that you want to be found for by recruiters. So, you have to select the keywords carefully, and then swap them out every two weeks. Why? Because each time you change it, LinkedIn rescans your profile, making you more likely to appear in search results. However, don’t overdo it—daily changes can trigger negative signals in the algorithm. A biweekly refresh is the sweet spot.
2. Not Posting Daily
BigstockThe second LinkedIn mistake is not posting on a daily basis. Many job seekers underestimate the power of daily activity on LinkedIn. Your feed is that social media aspect of the platform, and your visibility increases when you post articles or videos or even your own thoughts as they relate to your area of expertise. LinkedIn wants you to serve your network by providing them with information and value.
When you consistently share relevant content, it signals your engagement in your industry and increases your chances of being discovered. So, you should be curating and creating content on LinkedIn every day. Pull together some really insightful stuff and share it in your feed. That way, the people who follow you will learn from you.
Also, recruiters are watching. If you're posting every day, it will show them what you care about and highlight the type of value you bring to organizations. You want to be really intentional about what you put in this feed in order to be found by those recruiters.
3. Not Sharing Original, Quality Content
BigstockThe final mistake job seekers are making on LinkedIn is not focusing on posting quality-driven content. Simply reposting articles or commenting on other people’s posts isn’t enough. LinkedIn values original content. If you’re not sharing your own thoughts and insights, you’re missing an opportunity to showcase your expertise.
For every piece of content you post, whether it's a video, an article, or a graphic, you have to share your point of view—and you also want to use the right keywords to optimize your posts. Again, the algorithm is reading everything in your feed and figuring out what you talk about the most and what your area of expertise is. Quality content is now the key to showing up in recruiters' search results.
If you’re not updating your headline, posting daily, and ensuring your content is high quality, you’re significantly reducing your chances of being found by recruiters. This is what I teach my clients every single day. My clients go from being invisible to receiving recruiter inquiries simply by tweaking their LinkedIn strategy. And with these tips, this can happen to you too.
Good luck! Go get 'em.
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